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Latest News for April 3, 2003

Edited by Chris Henry

Peloton says no to Kemmel

After three leaders crossed the Kemmelberg climb with a five minute advantage
in yesterday's stage 2 of the Driedaagse van De Panne, the peloton decided
to avoid the climb in protest. Citing the cold rain and dangerous conditions
of the climb, which in good weather claimed several victims last year,
the peloton opted to take a detour rather than face the cobbled climb
and descent.

Race director Bernard Vandekerckhove was not pleased, though his reference
to Cofidis' Chris Peers (injured last year after a crash on the Kemmel)
as a "cry baby" earlier in the day didn't help his case. "I am not happy
at all with this," he said. "I think it is a real pity that suddenly they
refuse to go over the Kemmel. They have been going over it for 50 years.
Normally, according to the rules, the peloton has to be taken out of the
race. I have held back the peloton four and a half minutes. It's not fair
towards the three leaders because they have the Kemmel in their legs."

Museeuw bluffing?

As a number of riders continue to suffer from early season ailments,
notably several leaders of classics powerhouse Quick.Step-Davitamon, Cofidis
directeur sportif Alain Deloeuil sees a bluff in the making. In an interview
with velo-club.net, Deloeuil doubted Quick.Step would be any less of a
force in this weekend's Tour of Flanders, illness or no.

"Oh yes, the whole team, that's definitely a bluff," Deloeuil commented.
"Boonen is going very well in any case, and Vandenbroucke as well. Bettini
stopped Sunday, it's true, and he went home. Maybe he is truly sick. But
with Museeuw, I don't think he's sick. I think he's trying to remove himself
from the spotlight, but he'll certainly be there on Sunday."

Peeters not so sure

Wilfried Peeters, Quick.Step-Davitamon directeur sportif and longtime
right-hand man for Johan Museeuw, doesn't know who to pick for Sunday's
Tour of Flanders. "If you had asked me who will win Flanders, at least
before last Saturday, I would without doubt put Museeuw at the top of
the list, despite his knee problem," Peeters told La Dernière Heure.
"Then Bettini, but now, I'm not so sure."

The Quick.Step team has proven its capabilities in Het Volk and Milan-San
Remo, but looks to be in doubt for the Belgians' biggest race. "Given
the circumstances, Peter Van Petegem (Lotto-Domo) looks more and more
like the favourite, certainly concerning the chances for a Belgian victory
at the Tour of Flanders," Peeters continued. "If Museeuw recovers quickly
from his bronchitis, he can always be counted on next Sunday. But we can
already say he won't be there with one hundred percent of his capabilities."

The possibility of fielding its second tier team for Flanders concerns
Peeters, even if Tom Boonen and Frank Vandenbroucke may be perfectly capable
of assuming the roles of leaders. "Boonen and Vandenbroucke were supposed
to have more freedom at Flanders," Peeters noted. "We didn't want to expose
them to the pressure that comes with this race."

Helmets mandatory chez Cofidis

As the discussion of mandatory helmet use continues, more team directors
are taking their own positions. As it stands, a philosophy of "let the
rider decide" still rules, but within the Cofidis team it appears choice
is no longer an option. Following the death of Cofidis' own Andrei Kivilev,
the team's directors have made the decision to insist on helmet use. "At
the briefing, the directeur sportif says simply, everyone wears a helmet,"
Francis Van Londersele told L'Equipe.

Opinions on the matter vary among other directors, several of whom spoke
on the issue on Thursday's edition of l'Equipe. "There isn't much debate
since 95% of our guys wear helmets during the dangerous parts of a race,"
said FDJeux.com director Marc Madiot.

Other directors, such as Brioches La Boulangère's Jean-René
Bernadeau, seem to take a slightly more hands-off approach. Bernadeau
sent a letter to his riders encouraging helmet use, but says "I will not
spend my time repeating the message. I'm not their father; only a change
in the rules will solve the problem."

Euskaltel chances good for Tour

According to a report in Spanish daily Marca, the chances of a Tour de
France wild card selection for the Euskaltel-Euskadi team are good. "We
will invite four teams from a list of six candidates, including among
them Euskaltel," Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc explained. "I think
they are riding well, but not as well as last year." As always, Leblanc
insists the selection will be based on the team's racing performance in
the upcoming events.

Leblanc also noted that he would like to see a repeat of the "festival
of orange" that has taken place in the Pyrénées in recent
years, but nonetheless the selection would have to be based purely on
sporting merit. Furthermore, he insisted that there will be no rivalry
concerning international selections, considering the decision by Vuelta
a España organisers to guarantee selection to Spanish teams for
the next three years.

Rousseau out of SA World Cup

French track rider Florian Rousseau has decided to forfeit the upcoming
World Cup Classic in Cape Town, South Africa (April 11-13). Rousseau injured
his thigh in a weight training session, and though he began training again
on Monday, World Cup competition does not appear to be a viable option.
"For now I'm content to train behind the motorcycle at a steady rhythm,"
Rousseau told l'Equipe.

With Rousseau out, the French sprinters heading for South Africa include
Hervé Gané, Mickaël Bourgain, and Sébastien
Nothin.

Kirsipuu out of Adélie

As with a number of riders, Jaan Kirsipuu is suffering from a cold, and
as a result has decided to skip Friday's Route Adélie, the fourth
round of the Coupe de France. The Ag2R-Prévoyance leader, winner
of the Classic Haribo in February, will not be on hand to defend his lead
in the Coupe de France series, though he hopes to be back in form in time
for Sunday's GP de la Ville de Rennes.

Oscar Sevilla to return at Vuelta a Aragon

After nearly a month off the bike, Oscar Sevilla started training again
Tuesday. Sevilla was forced off the bike in February, when he had an operation
to remove a painful boil in a "delicate area". Some pain persists, but
the Kelme leader is pleased to be back in training. Although he gained
two kilos thanks to the time off the bike, Sevilla notes that there is
time before the Tour de France to reach his top condition.

If his recovery continues without problems, Sevilla will return to racing
at the Vuelta a Aragon, April 16-20. "I was supposed to race in Amorebieta,
but now it'll be a little later," Sevilla told Marca. "It's not a problem.
I still have three months before the Tour to find my form."

Bergmann suspended

Reto Bergmann has been suspended by the Swiss Olympic committee for two
years and fined 1,500 euros for smuggling doping products to a training
camp in Spain. Bergmann, 27, was fired by the Phonak team in February
for possession of Andriol, an anabolic agent and derivative of testosterone.

Circuit des Ardennes

Following a visit from the Critérium International, racing will
return to Charleville-Mézières, France and the Ardennes
region. The 29th edition of the Circuit des Ardennes (UCI 2.6) will take
place April 10-13, featuring five stages in the hilly region to test a
132 rider field. Priority in selection for the race is typically given
to U23 riders, and the event has in the past highlighted developing talent,
including Stephen Roche and Greg LeMond.

Charleville-Mézières will also host the start of stage
3 in this year's Tour de France.